Paul Berlenbach

Paul Berlenbach (February 18, 1901 – September 30, 1985) was the world light heavyweight boxing champion from May 30, 1925, when he wrested the crown from Mike McTigue, until July 16, 1926, when he was defeated by his nemesis Jack Delaney. The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer rated him as the #10 best light heavyweight of all-time. Berlenbach was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.[1]

Paul Berlenbach
Statistics
Real namePaul Berlenbach
Nickname(s)Astoria Assassin
Weight(s)Light Heavyweight
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
Nationality American
Born(1901-02-18)February 18, 1901
New York, New York, United States
DiedSeptember 30, 1985(1985-09-30) (aged 84)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins40
Wins by KO33
Losses8
Draws3
No contests1

Professional career

World light heavyweight champion

Known as the "Astoria Assassin", Berlenbach was known for his punching power. The New York City-born Berlenbach was an AAU champion wrestler before turning to professional boxing in 1923. Eventually he scored a 10th-round TKO over former champion "Battling Siki" to earn a title shot against champion Mike McTigue.

Described by writer Paul Gallico as "untutored, unlettered, slow-witted, slow-moving, and wholly lacking in animation or imagination", Berlenbach was, nevertheless, a formidable fighter. As Gallico noted, he possessed "a numbing, paralyzing body punch that caused his opponents suddenly to crumple up" as though shot. His weaknesses were his non-existent defense, and slow movements which enabled sharp shooting opponents, such as Jack Delaney, to hit him at will.

Retirement

He retired with a record of 40 wins (33 KOs), 8 losses, and 3 draws. He was named #93 on the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Upon his retirement, he owned and operated Paul Berlenbach's Ringside Restaurant in Sound Beach, New York in the 1950s.

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
51 fights 40 wins 8 losses
By knockout 34 3
By decision 6 4
By disqualification 0 1
Draws 3

All Newspaper decisions are regarded as “no decision” bouts as they have “resulted in neither boxer winning or losing, and would therefore not count as part of their official fight record."

No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
54 Loss 40–8–3 (3) Carl Knowles PTS 10 Sep 28, 1933 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
53 NC 40–7–3 (3) Ray Lopez NC 2 (?) Sep 14, 1931 Saint Albans, Vermont, U.S. The bout was declared NC after Lopez had been floored three times by relatively light punches.
52 Loss 40–7–3 (2) Herman Weiner DQ 1 (5) Jul 22, 1931 Twin City Arena, Laurel, Maryland, U.S. Berlenbach DQ'd for going down without a blow being struck.
51 Win 40–6–3 (2) Jerry Garfield TKO 4 (6) Jul 09, 1931 Fort Hamilton Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
50 Win 39–6–3 (2) Billy Henderson TKO 1 (4) Apr 13, 1931 Prospect Hall, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
49 Win 38–6–3 (2) Eddie Clark KO 3 (4) Mar 31, 1931 Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
48 Win 37–6–3 (2) Larry Estridge KO 8 (?) May 22, 1928 Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
47 Win 36–6–3 (2) Floyd Shimalla KO 1 (?) May 12, 1928 Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
46 Loss 35–6–3 (2) Jack Delaney TKO 6 (10) Dec 09, 1927 Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
45 Loss 35–5–3 (2) Mickey Walker PTS 10 Nov 25, 1927 Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
44 Draw 35–4–3 (2) Joe Lohman PTS 10 Oct 13, 1927 Auditorium, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
43 Win 35–4–2 (2) Bob Lawson KO 7 (?) Jul 28, 1927 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
42 Win 34–4–2 (2) Bing Conley PTS 10 Jul 18, 1927 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
41 Win 33–4–2 (2) Gus Berger TKO 4 (10) Jul 09, 1927 Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
40 Win 32–4–2 (2) Charley Rammell TKO 1 (10) Jun 27, 1927 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
39 Loss 31–4–2 (2) Mike McTigue TKO 4 (10) Jan 28, 1927 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
38 Win 31–3–2 (2) Francis Charles TKO 1 (10) Aug 20, 1926 Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
37 Loss 30–3–2 (2) Jack Delaney UD 15 Jul 16, 1926 Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. Lost The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
For vacant NYSAC light heavyweight title
36 Win 30–2–2 (2) Young Stribling UD 15 Jun 10, 1926 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
35 Win 29–2–2 (2) Ray Neuman PTS 10 Apr 05, 1926 Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
34 Loss 28–2–2 (2) Johnny Risko PTS 10 Mar 19, 1926 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
33 Win 28–1–2 (2) Jack Delaney PTS 15 Dec 11, 1925 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
32 Win 27–1–2 (2) Emilio Solomon TKO 9 (10) Oct 12, 1925 Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, U.S.
31 Win 26–1–2 (2) Jimmy Slattery TKO 11 (15) Sep 11, 1925 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
30 NC 25–1–2 (2) Tony Marullo NC 9 (15) Jul 13, 1925 Dreamland Park, Newark, New Jersey, U.S. Retained The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
No decision bout. Both men were disqualified for "not trying"
29 Win 25–1–2 (1) Mike McTigue UD 15 May 30, 1925 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. Won The Ring and lineal light heavyweight titles
28 Win 24–1–2 (1) Battling Siki TKO 10 (12) Mar 13, 1925 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
27 Win 23–1–2 (1) Frankie Maguire TKO 5 (10) Feb 09, 1925 108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
26 Win 22–1–2 (1) Tony Marullo PTS 12 Jan 30, 1925 108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
25 Win 21–1–2 (1) Rocky Smith TKO 4 (10) Jan 14, 1925 108th Field Artillery Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
24 Win 20–1–2 (1) Larry Estridge TKO 2 (?) Dec 26, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
23 Win 19–1–2 (1) Tom Burns KO 5 (10) Dec 05, 1924 Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
22 Win 18–1–2 (1) Johnny Gill NWS 10 Oct 01, 1924 Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
21 Win 18–1–2 Jack Reddick KO 8 (?) Sep 19, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
20 Draw 17–1–2 Young Stribling PTS 6 Aug 27, 1924 Velodrome, New York, U.S.
19 Win 17–1–1 Hambone Kelly KO 4 (10) Aug 15, 1924 Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
18 Draw 16–1–1 Augie Ratner PTS 8 Jul 24, 1924 Polo Grounds, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
17 Win 16–1 Frank Carpenter TKO 7 (10) Jul 07, 1924 Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
16 Win 15–1 KO Jaffe TKO 7 (10) Jun 20, 1924 Henderson's Bowl, Brooklyn New York City, New York, U.S.
15 Win 14–1 Chief Halbran TKO 3 (10) Jun 16, 1924 Bralls Arena, Freeport, New York U.S.
14 Win 13–1 Harold Abbott TKO 4 (10) Apr 29, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13 Win 12–1 Jack Stone TKO 5 (12) Apr 07, 1924 1st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S.
12 Win 11–1 Harry Krohn KO 4 (10) Mar 31, 1924 1st Regiment Armory, Newark, U.S.
11 Loss 10–1 Jack Delaney KO 4 (12) Mar 14, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jimmy Darcy TKO 3 (12) Mar 03, 1924 Broadway Arena, Brooklyn, New York City, New York U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Young Fisher KO 6 (?) Feb 28, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Pat Walsh TKO 1 (?) Feb 15, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Frank Carbone TKO 6 (8) Jan 28, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Lew Chester KO 2 (6) Jan 18, 1924 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Billy Ryan KO 1 (?) Jan 10, 1924 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 KO Jaffre KO 7 (?) Jan 02, 1924 Lenox A.C., New York, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Jerome Baird KO 1 (8) Dec 13, 1923 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Charles Hoffman KO 1 (8) Nov 29, 1923 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Jimmy Roberts KO 1 (8) Oct 04, 1923 102nd Medical Regiment Armory, New York, U.S.

See also
  • List of light heavyweight boxing champions

References
  1. Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia - Paul Berlenbach CyberBoxingZone.com Retrieved on 2014-04-30
Achievements
Preceded by
Mike McTigue		 World Light Heavyweight Champion
30 May 1925 – 16 July 1926		 Succeeded by
Jack Delaney
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